NBA-Injury-hit Bulls should not lose hope-Pippen

May 01, 2012|Reuters

May 1 (Reuters) - The top-seeded Chicago Bulls should notlet the season-ending injury to leading scorer Derrick Rosedistract them from their goal of winning the team's first titlein 14 years, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen said on Tuesday.

The injury to the reigning National BasketballAssociation's(NBA) Most Valuable Player in Chicago's playoffopener has left a gaping hole in the team's lineup and shakes upthe Eastern Conference playoff bracket.

"Yes, you lost one of your brothers - a warrior in everysense of the word - but I know, and you know, you've still got alot of fight left," Pippen, who won six NBA titles with Chicagoduring a 17-year career, wrote in an open letter to the Bullsthat was posted on the team's website.

"You're still the best team in the NBA until an opponentproves otherwise. So go out there and play like it."

Rose, who was sidelined during the regular season with avariety of issues, including back spasms and a pulled groin, isexpected to miss up to nine months recovering from a tear of theanterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The 23-year-old guard suffered the injury with 82 secondsleft in a 103-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturdaythat gave the Bulls a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-sevenEastern Conference quarter-final.

"You could lose sight of the ultimate goal and give upbefore the rest of the games have even been played," Pippenwrote. "But I know that's not even a consideration for thisgroup.

"To a man, it's time for each of you to take a look in themirror. Decide who you really are and what you represent as abasketball player. Reflect on what you have brought to the tablefor your team all season long and why you're a valuable memberof the Bulls."